The past few weeks

Sorry about the lack of entries recently, I will now update you on all my doings from the past few weeks.

Weekdays are spent working, which leaves the weekends to sight see and relax.  I have seen the War Remnants Museum, the Palace of Independence and the Jade Emperor Pagoda.  The Museum was highly interesting but also very sad and disturbing.  It focused on the effects of the Vietnam War and how large parts of the country are still dealing with it.  A large part of it was the effects of Agent Orange, and how babies are still being born disfigured because of it.  It was a truly moving place and I hope to get involved in some charity work while I am here.  The Palace of Independence was also interesting, but for completely different reasons.  It was very bare, with minimal furniture and decoration, it was the place where the end of the Vietnam War took place and it is still in use for meetings today.  It was interesting to see how a large and historical place was so empty because it is kept by a different group of people.  It has been there since the French colonial times and it is famous for having a tank crash through its gates at the end of the war in 1975. 

The Jade Emperor Pagoda was a completely different tourist bit.  Religion instead of history.  It is a Buddhist temple and had so much detail in the carvings and paintings on the walls.  I wish I could understand the Chinese characters though, it would have made a bit more sense.  There were ladies selling baby turtles and fish to put in the pond for good luck, which seemed a bit strange to me.  Inside there were lots of candles and incense sticks burning giving a calming atmosphere.  It was very interesting to see, and I feel like I am filling up my tourist quota with all this sightseeing!

I can't believe I have been teaching here a month and had a month doing my first long term job.  I am still really enjoying the teaching and the kids are wonderful.  I have been doing a version of 'A Christmas Carol' with them, which they have found great.  I was very surprised that they all enjoyed it so much.  It is funny to think that Christmas is on its way, I don't feel like it is Christmas at all, probably because it is hot and normally I am wrapped up in scarfs and hats and gloves in the run up to Christmas.  There are lots of people to celebrate Christmas with here, so it should be good.  The Vietnamese are all very excited about Christmas, just because it is a celebration.  The Vietnamese staff decorated the Christmas tree in the office and it is one of the most decorated trees I have seen!  It was so much fun to watch them having such a good time doing it. 

I hope you are all enjoying the build up to Christmas.